Born in the winter of early 2010, this Helsinki based Finnish quartet founded by guitarist Goatspeed and singer Kvohst (whom has been in British Black Metal act Code, spent time with Norway's Dodheimsgard, and has a tenure with Freak Folk band Hexvessel), soon released its debut demo White Stains On Black Wax featuring two songs in a style which they themselves dubbed “Apocalyptic Post-Punk”, and sold it out in record time. In the process, they attracted the attention of Darkthrone's Fenriz, whom posted a rave review of the two-track demo on his Band Of The Week blog. Definitely, Beastmilk was on its way to bigger things!
You see, the band (which further consists of bassist Arino and drummer Paile) soon enough garnered the appreciation of the Svart Records label, who offered the band a deal to re-issued the demo (with added bonus track) and release also their debut EP Use Your Deluge on 7-inch vinyl! Great reviews came along, comparing the band to the likes of “early Christian Death” (Avantgarde-Metal.com), “stylistically between Rory Erickson, early Misfits, and The Devil's Blood” (German Metal Hammer), “Elements of a gloomier Joy Division, an angrier Echo & The Bunnymen, a medicated Killing Joke, and even a lush layering of Peter Murphy” (source unknown; off the info sheet which came along with the promo download of the album), and the band did its debut show in Finland as guests of Nolla Nolla Nolla (one of the band's influences) and Radiopuhelimet (both noted bands in the Finnish Underground), following that up with more shows (some of which outside Finland), which culminated in an exclusive performance at Denmark's Metal Magick festival. Meanwhile, members of American band Converge had discovered the band online, and ordered the band's singles. This in turn led to Kurt Ballou offering to produce their album at his renowned GodCity Studio. So, in June 2013 the band flew out to Boston, and recorded the 10 songs which now constitute their Climax album!
And there is is, turning around in my cd-player (for the...umpteenth time). What more words of praise can I utter which have not already been said and put down to text in the paragraphs above? I mean, personally I felt a strong kinship of this band with '80s Pop Rock icons Simple Minds, especially in the progressive touch of the music, and the great singing style. Surely, if SM had been somewhat Gothic minded, they might've sounded somewhat like what Beastmilk is today? Make up your own minds by listening to the music yourselves! And you can do that quite thoroughly, as the “Music” section at (www.) facebook.com/beastmilk (where you'll find the band includes the likes of Crisis (UK), Rudimentary Peni, Testors, Turun Tauti, Psyyke, Mana Mana, Serge Gainsbourg, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Masonna, Billy Childish, France Gall, Samhain, Danzig, Dead Kennedys, Talk Talk, Patti Smith and Ah-ha to their list of influences – quite a wacky bunch, you'll admit!?) re-directs one to the band's Bandcamp page, where you can also check out the band's 7-inches! Enjoy!
Oh, before I forget...in May the band is out on a small European tour, playing dates France, the UK, Germany, and the Czech Republic, and prior to that they perform at the long-since sold out Roadburn in Holland!